Probe position monitoring structure and method of monitoring position of probe

ABSTRACT

A probe position monitoring structure includes a first common line and a contact portion configured for being directly contacted with a probe. The contact portion includes a first zigzag structure, and a first end of the first zigzag structure is directly connected with the first common line. A method of monitoring a position of a probe includes the following steps. The probe position monitoring structure is provided. The first zigzag structure is directly contacted with a first probe. A resistance measurement is performed to measure a resistance of a portion of the first zigzag structure located between the first probe and the first end for monitoring a position of the first probe.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a probe position monitoring structureand a method of monitoring a position of a probe, and more particularly,to a probe position monitoring structure including a zigzag structure ina contact portion and a method of monitoring a position of a probe withthe probe position monitoring structure.

2. Description of the Prior Art

The manufacture of integrated circuits keeps improving as the relatedtechnologies progress. Many kinds of electric circuits may be integratedand formed on a single chip. The semiconductor process for manufacturingchips may include many steps, such as a deposition process for forming athin film, a photoresist coating process, an exposure process, and adevelop process for forming a patterned photoresist, and an etchingprocess for patterning the thin film. The above processes may berepeatedly carried out to form the integrated circuits and/or thecorresponding chips on a substrate (such as a wafer). There are manytests required to be performed to test element groups on the substrateand/or to the chips directly during and/or after the manufacturingprocesses. Generally, test probes are used to make contact with test padin the tests mentioned above, and the condition of the test elementgroups and/or the chips may be misjudged by the test results when thetest probes do not accurately make contact with the test pads.Therefore, it is important to monitor the positions of the test probesand ensure the test probes accurately make contact with thecorresponding test pads before using the test results to determine thecondition of the tested objects.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A probe position monitoring structure and a method of monitoring aposition of a probe are provided in the present invention. A contactportion of the probe position monitoring structure includes a zigzagstructure for being used in a resistance measurement where a probedirectly contacts the zigzag structure, and the position of the probemay be monitored by measuring a resistance of the zigzag structurebetween a common line and the probe.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, a probe positionmonitoring structure is provided. The probe position monitoringstructure includes a first common line and a contact portion configuredfor being directly contacted with a probe. The contact portion includesa first zigzag structure, and a first end of the first zigzag structureis directly connected with the first common line.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, a method ofmonitoring a position of a probe is provided. The method includes thefollowing steps. A probe position monitoring structure is provided. Theprobe position monitoring structure includes a first common line and acontact portion. The contact portion includes a first zigzag structure,and a first end of the first zigzag structure is directly connected withthe first common line. The first zigzag structure is directly contactedwith a first probe. A resistance measurement is performed to measure aresistance of a portion of the first zigzag structure located betweenthe first probe and the first end for monitoring a position of the firstprobe.

These and other objectives of the present invention will no doubt becomeobvious to those of ordinary skill in the art after reading thefollowing detailed description of the preferred embodiment that isillustrated in the various figures and drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic drawing illustrating a probe position monitoringstructure according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic drawing illustrating an enlargement of a part ofthe probe position monitoring structure according to the firstembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional diagram taken along a line A-A′ in FIG. 2 .

FIG. 4 is a schematic drawing illustrating a semiconductor waferincluding the probe position monitoring structure according to anembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a schematic drawing illustrating a method of monitoring aposition of a probe with the probe position monitoring structure of thefirst embodiment according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIGS. 6A-6C are schematic drawings illustrating a method of monitoring aposition of a probe with the probe position monitoring structure of thefirst embodiment according to another embodiment of the presentinvention, wherein FIG. 6A is a schematic drawing illustrating atwo-point measurement step via a first probe and a second probe, FIG. 6Bis a schematic drawing illustrating a two-point measurement step via thesecond probe and a third probe, and FIG. 6C is a schematic drawingillustrating a two-point measurement step via the first probe and thethird probe.

FIGS. 7A-7C are schematic drawings illustrating a method of monitoring aposition of a probe with the probe position monitoring structure of thefirst embodiment according to another embodiment of the presentinvention, wherein FIG. 7A is a schematic drawing illustrating athree-point measurement step via a first probe, a second probe, and athird probe, FIG. 7B is a schematic drawing illustrating anotherthree-point measurement step via the first probe, the second probe, andthe third probe, and FIG. 7C is a schematic drawing illustrating furtheranother three-point measurement step via the first probe, the secondprobe, and the third probe.

FIGS. 8A-8C are schematic drawings illustrating a method of monitoring aposition of a probe with the probe position monitoring structure of thefirst embodiment according to another embodiment of the presentinvention, wherein FIG. 8A is a schematic drawing illustrating athree-point measurement step via a first probe, a second probe, and athird probe, FIG. 8B is a schematic drawing illustrating anotherthree-point measurement step via the first probe, the second probe, andthe third probe, and FIG. 8C is a schematic drawing illustrating furtheranother three-point measurement step via the first probe, the secondprobe, and the third probe.

FIG. 9 is a schematic drawing illustrating a probe position monitoringstructure according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10A and FIG. 10B are schematic drawings illustrating a method ofmonitoring a position of a probe with the probe position monitoringstructure of the second embodiment according to an embodiment of thepresent invention, wherein FIG. 10A is a schematic drawing illustratinga two-point measurement step via a first probe and a second probe, andFIG. 10B is a schematic drawing illustrating a two-point measurementstep via the second probe and a third probe.

FIG. 11 is a schematic drawing illustrating a probe position monitoringstructure according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a schematic drawing illustrating a method of monitoring aposition of a probe with the probe position monitoring structure of thethird embodiment.

FIG. 13 is a schematic drawing illustrating a probe position monitoringstructure according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

FIGS. 14A-14C are schematic drawings illustrating a method of monitoringa position of a probe with the probe position monitoring structure ofthe fourth embodiment, wherein FIG. 14A is a schematic drawingillustrating a four-point measurement step via a first probe, a secondprobe, a third probe, and a fourth probe, FIG. 14B is a schematicdrawing illustrating another four-point measurement step via the firstprobe, the second probe, a fifth probe, and a sixth probe, and FIG. 14Cis a schematic drawing illustrating further another four-pointmeasurement step via the first probe, the third probe, the fourth probe,and the fifth probe.

FIG. 15 is a schematic drawing illustrating a probe position monitoringstructure according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 16 is a schematic drawing illustrating a method of monitoring aposition of a probe with the probe position monitoring structure of thefifth embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Although specific configurations and arrangements are discussed, itshould be understood that this is done for illustrative purposes only. Aperson skilled in the pertinent art will recognize that otherconfigurations and arrangements can be used without departing from thespirit and scope of the present disclosure. It will be apparent to aperson skilled in the related art that the present invention can also beemployed in a variety of other applications.

It is noted that references in the specification to “one embodiment,”“an embodiment,” “some embodiments,” etc., indicate that the embodimentdescribed may include a particular feature, structure, orcharacteristic, but every embodiment may not necessarily include theparticular feature, structure, or characteristic. Moreover, such phrasesdo not necessarily refer to the same embodiment. Further, when aparticular feature, structure or characteristic is described inconnection with an embodiment, it would be within the knowledge of aperson skilled in the pertinent art to effect such feature, structure orcharacteristic in connection with other embodiments whether or notexplicitly described.

It should be understood that, although the terms first, second, etc. maybe used herein to describe various elements, components, regions, layersand/or sections, these elements, components, regions, layers and/orsections should not be limited by these terms. These terms are only usedto distinguish one element, component, region, layer and/or section fromanother. Thus, a first element, component, region, layer or sectiondiscussed below could be termed a second element, component, region,layer or section without departing from the teachings of the disclosure.

It should be understood that the meaning of “on,” “above,” and “over” inthe present disclosure should be interpreted in the broadest manner suchthat “on” not only means “directly on” something but also includes themeaning of “on” something with an intermediate feature or a layertherebetween, and that “above” or “over” not only means the meaning of“above” or “over” something but can also include the meaning it is“above” or “over” something with no intermediate feature or layertherebetween (i.e., directly on something).

FIG. 1 is a schematic drawing illustrating a probe position monitoringstructure according to a first embodiment of the present invention, andFIG. 2 is a schematic drawing illustrating an enlargement of a part ofthe probe position monitoring structure. As illustrated in FIG. 1 andFIG. 2 , a probe position monitoring structure 101 is provided in thisembodiment. The probe position monitoring structure 101 includes a firstcommon line CL1 and a contact portion CT configured for being directlycontacted with a probe (such as a first probe PR1, a second probe PR2,and/or a third probe PR3 represented in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 ). The contactportion CT includes a first zigzag structure ZS1, and a first end E11 ofthe first zigzag structure ZS1 is directly connected with the firstcommon line CL1. In some embodiments, the first zigzag structure ZS1 mayextend in horizontal directions (such as a first direction D1 and asecond direction D2 represented in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 ) for beingdirectly contacted with the probe in a vertical direction (such as athird direction D3 represented in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 ), but not limitedthereto. For example, the first zigzag structure ZS1 may include aplurality of first sections SC1 and a plurality of second sections SC2.Each of the first sections SC1 may be elongated in the first directionD1, and the first sections SC1 may be repeatedly arranged in the seconddirection D2 and disposed parallel to one another. Each of the secondsections SC2 may be elongated in the second direction D2 and directlyconnected with two of the first sections SC1 located adjacent to eachother in the second direction D2. In other words, there are S-shapedstructures composed of the first sections SC1 and the second sectionsSC2 in the first zigzag structure ZS1. The second direction D2 isdifferent from the first direction D1. In some embodiments, the firstdirection D1 and the second direction D2 may be orthogonal andperpendicular to each other, but not limited thereto.

In addition, the first zigzag structure ZS1 may be directly connectedwith the first common line CL1 via a third section SC3 of the firstzigzag structure ZS1, and the third section SC3 may be elongated in thesecond direction D2. One end of the third section SC3 (such as the firstend E11) may be directly connected with the first common line CL1 andanother end of the third section SC3 in the second direction D2 may bedirectly connected with one of the first sections SC1 adjacent to thefirst common line CL1. In some embodiments, the line widths of thesections of the first zigzag structure ZS1 may be equal to one anotherpreferably for calculating the length of the first zigzag structure ZS1located between the first probe PR1 and the first end E11 of the firstzigzag structure ZS1 (such as a length L11 represented in FIG. 2 ) so asto monitor the position of the first probe PR1. In other words, a widthW1 of each of the first sections SC1, a width W2 of each of the secondsections SC2, and a width W3 of the third section SC3 may besubstantially equal to one another, but not limited thereto. In someembodiments, the width W1 of each of the first sections SC1 may be lessthan a width W4 of the first common line CL1 for neglecting theresistance of the first common line CL1 in the calculation of the lengthof the first zigzag structure ZS1 located between the first probe PR1and the first end E11 of the first zigzag structure ZS1 described above.For example, a ratio of the width W4 of the first common line CL1 to thewidth W1 of each of the first sections SC1 (W4/W1) may range from 5 to200, but not limited thereto.

In some embodiments, the contact portion CT in the probe positionmonitoring structure 101 may further include a second zigzag structureZS2 and a third zigzag structure ZS3. The first zigzag structure ZS1,the second zigzag structure ZS2, and the third zigzag structure ZS3 maybe aligned in the first direction D1, and a pattern of the first zigzagstructure ZS1, a pattern of the second zigzag structure ZS2, and apattern of the third zigzag structure ZS3 in the third direction D3 maybe identical to one another for monitoring the positions of the firstprobe PR1 contacting the first zigzag structure ZS1, the second probePR2 contacting the second zigzag structure ZS2, and the third probe PR3contacting the third zigzag structure ZS3, but not limited thereto. Insome embodiments a first end E21 of the second zigzag structure ZS2 anda first end E31 of the third zigzag structure ZS3 may be directlyconnected with the first common line CL1 respectively, and the firstzigzag structure ZS1, the second zigzag structure ZS2, the third zigzagstructure ZS3, and the first common line CL1 may be different parts ofone conductive layer (such as a metal layer embedded in a dielectricmaterial), but not limited thereto.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional diagram taken along a line A-A′ in FIG. 2 .As illustrated in FIGS. 1-3 , the probe position monitoring structure101 may further include an interlayer dielectric ILD, and the firstcommon line CL1 and the contact portion CT may be at least partiallydisposed in the interlayer dielectric ILD. In some embodiments, aplurality of conductive layers (such as a metal layer M1, a metal layerM2, a metal layer M3, and a metal layer M4 represented in FIG. 3 ) maybe disposed in the interlayer dielectric ILD and disposed stacked withone another in the third direction D3 for forming a stacked structure(such as a stacked metal layer SM represented in FIG. 3 ). The thirddirection D3 may be regarded as a vertical direction and a thicknessdirection of the interlayer dielectric ILD, and the first direction D1and the second direction D2 may be regarded as horizontal directionsorthogonal to the third direction D3, but not limited thereto. In someembodiments, one or more of the metal layers in the stacked metal layerSM may be used to form the first common line CL1 and the contact portionCT described above. For example, the first common line CL1 may include afirst layer (such as a first portion M11 of the metal layer M1), asecond layer (such as a first portion M21 of the metal layer M2), athird layer (such as a first portion M31 of the metal layer M3), and afourth layer (such as a first portion M41 of the metal layer M4) stackedin the third direction D3, and the first zigzag structure ZS1 mayinclude a first layer (such as a second portion M12 of the metal layerM1), a second layer (such as a second portion M22 of the metal layerM2), a third layer (such as a second portion M32 of the metal layer M3),and a fourth layer (such as a second portion M42 of the metal layer M4)stacked in the third direction D3 and separated from one another by aportion of the interlayer dielectric ILD, but not limited thereto. Insome embodiments, the first common line CL1 may be composed of the firstportion M41 of the metal layer M4 only, the contact portion CT may becomposed of the second portion M42 of the metal layer M4, and the firstcommon line CL1 and the contact portion CT may be at least located in atop layer of the stacked metal layer SM accordingly, but not limitedthereto. In some embodiment, the first zigzag structure ZS1, the secondzigzag structure ZS2, the third zigzag structure ZS3, and the firstcommon line CL1 may be different parts of one conductive layer (such asthe metal layer M4), but not limited thereto.

In some embodiments, connection plugs (such as a connection plug V1, aconnection plug V2, and a connection plug V3 represented in FIG. 3 ) maybe disposed between the metal layers of the first common line CL1 forelectrically connecting the first portion M11 of the metal layer M1, thefirst portion M21 of the metal layer M2, the first portion M31 of themetal layer M3, and the first portion M41 of the metal layer M4, but notlimited thereto. In some embodiments, the metal layer M1, the metallayer M2, the metal layer M3, and the metal layer M4 may be electricallyinsulated from one another, and the metal layer M1, the metal layer M2,the metal layer M3, and the metal layer M4 may be regarded as beingelectrically floating, but not limited thereto. In some embodiments, thepattern of the zigzag structure represented in FIG. 2 may be regarded asthe pattern of the second portion M42 of the metal layer M4 in the thirddirection D3. The pattern of the second portion M32 of the metal layerM3 in the third direction, the pattern of the second portion M22 of themetal layer M2 in the third direction D3, and the pattern of the secondportion M12 of the metal layer M1 in the third direction D3 may beidentical to the pattern of the second portion M42 of the metal layer M4in the third direction D3 respectively. In some embodiments, the stackedmetal layer SM and an interconnection structure (not represented) may beformed concurrently by the same back end of line (BEOL) process in asemiconductor manufacturing method. Therefore, when the metal layer M4is the last metal in the BEOL process, the second portion M42 of themetal layer M4 may be directly contacted with a probe in a final testmeasurement step, the second portion M32 of the metal layer M3 may bedirectly contacted with a probe in an in-line test measurement stepbefore the step of forming the metal layer M4, the second portion M22 ofthe metal layer M2 may be directly contacted with a probe in an in-linetest measurement step before the step of forming the metal layer M3, andthe second portion M12 of the metal layer M1 may be directly contactedwith a probe in an in-line test measurement step before the step offorming the metal layer M2. In some embodiments, the second portion M42of the metal layer M4, the second portion M32 of the metal layer M3, thesecond portion M22 of the metal layer M2, and the second portion M12 ofthe metal layer M1 may be separated from one another by a portion of theinterlayer dielectric ILD for avoiding the influence of conductiveresidues generated by the previous test measurement step on themeasurement result of the current test measurement step.

In some embodiments, the interlayer dielectric ILD may be formed on asemiconductor substrate (such as a semiconductor wafer, not representedin FIGS. 1-3 ) in the BEOL process described above, and the interlayerdielectric ILD may include a single layer structure or a multiple layerstructure of dielectric materials, such as silicon oxide, low dielectricconstant (low-k) dielectric materials, or other suitable dielectricmaterials. The low-k dielectric material described above may includebenzocyclobutene (BCB), hydrogen silsesquioxane (HSQ), methylsilsesquioxane (MSQ), hydrogenated silicon oxycarbide (SiOC—H), porousdielectric materials, or other suitable materials having relativelylower dielectric constant. In some embodiments, the metal layers M1-M4and the connection plugs V1-V3 may respectively include a barriermaterial and a conductive material disposed on the barrier material. Thebarrier material may include titanium (Ti), titanium nitride (TiN),tantalum (Ta), tantalum nitride (TaN), or other suitable conductivebarrier materials, and the conductive material may include tungsten (W),copper (Cu), aluminum (Al), titanium aluminide (TiAl), cobalt tungstenphosphide (CoWP), or other suitable metallic conductive materials. Insome embodiments, the probes (such as the first probe PR1, the secondprobe PR2, and the third probe PR3) may be probe needles connected witha probe card structure (not represented), and the material of the probesmay include tungsten, tungsten-rhenium (WRe), beryllium copper (BeCu),or other suitable conductive materials.

FIG. 4 is a schematic drawing illustrating a semiconductor wafer 10including the probe position monitoring structure 101 according to anembodiment of the present invention. As illustrated in FIG. 1 and FIG. 4, a first region R1 and a second region R2 adjacent to the first regionR1 may be defined on the semiconductor wafer 10. A semiconductor chip(not represented) and a plurality of contact pads TP may be disposedwithin the first region R1, and the probe position monitoring structure101 may be disposed within the second region R2. In some embodiments,the second region R2 may be a scribe region between the semiconductorchips in a wafer dicing process, and marks (such as alignment marks) forthe production of the semiconductor wafer 10, inline test pads, testpads for a final check may be disposed within the second region R2, butnot limited thereto. In some embodiments, the probes (such as the firstprobe PR1, the second probe PR2, and the third probe PR3) configured tocontact the zigzag structures of the contact portion CT in the probeposition monitoring structure 101 and other probe needles configured tocontact the inline test pads, the test pads for the final check, and/orthe contact pads TP may be connected to the same probe card structure,and the positions of the probe needles may be monitored relatively bymonitoring the position of the first probe PR1, the second probe PR2,and/or the third probe PR3 accordingly.

FIG. 5 is a schematic drawing illustrating a method of monitoring aposition of a probe with the probe position monitoring structure 101according to an embodiment of the present invention. As illustrated inFIG. 1 , FIG. 2 , and FIG. 5 , a method of monitoring a position of aprobe may include the following steps. The probe position monitoringstructure 101 is provided. The probe position monitoring structure 101includes the first common line CL1 and the contact portion CT configuredfor being directly contacted with a probe. The contact portion CTincludes the first zigzag structure ZS1, and the first end E11 of thefirst zigzag structure ZS1 is directly connected with the first commonline CL1. The first zigzag structure ZS1 is directly contacted with thefirst probe PR1. A resistance measurement is performed to measure aresistance of a portion of the first zigzag structure ZS1 locatedbetween the first probe PR1 and the first end E11 for monitoring theposition of the first probe PR1.

In some embodiments, the method of monitoring the position of the probemay include but is not limited to the following steps. As illustrated inFIGS. 1-3 and FIG. 5 , in some embodiments, the first zigzag structureZS1 is directly contacted with the first probe PR1, the second zigzagstructure ZS2 is directly contacted with the second probe PR2, and thethird zigzag structure ZS3 is directly contacted with the third probePR3, and a resistance of a portion of the first zigzag structure ZS1located between the first probe PR1 and the first end E11 of the firstzigzag structure ZS1 (such as a resistance R_(L11) represented in FIG. 5), a resistance of a portion of the second zigzag structure ZS2 locatedbetween the second probe PR2 and the first end E21 of the second zigzagstructure ZS2 (such as a resistance R_(L21) represented in FIG. 5 ), anda resistance of a portion of the third zigzag structure ZS3 locatedbetween the third probe PR3 and the first end E31 of the third zigzagstructure ZS3 (such as a resistance R_(L31) represented in FIG. 5 ) maybe obtained by the resistance measurement via the first probe PR1, thesecond probe PR2, and the third probe PR3. In other words, theresistance measurement may be performed to measure the resistanceR_(L11), the resistance R_(L21), and the resistance R_(L31). Inaddition, the method of monitoring the position of the probe may furtherinclude calculating the length L11 of the portion of the first zigzagstructure ZS1 located between the first probe PR1 and the first end E11of the first zigzag structure ZS1 according to a result of theresistance measurement described above. For example, the resistanceR_(L11) may be the electrical resistance of the first zigzag structureZS1 located between the first end E11 and a contact end C11 directlycontacting the first probe PR1, and the length L11 of the first zigzagstructure ZS1 located between the first end E11 and the contact end C11may be calculated by the following equation, wherein ρ stands for theelectrical resistivity of the first zigzag structure ZS1 (such as anelectrical resistivity of the metal layer M4, but not limited thereto),and H stands for the thickness of the first zigzag structure ZS1 (suchas a thickness of the metal layer M4 in the third direction D3, but notlimited thereto).

$R_{L11} = {\rho \times \frac{L11}{W1 \times H}}$

Similarly, the resistance R_(L21) may be the electrical resistance ofthe second zigzag structure ZS2 located between the first end E21 and acontact end C21 directly contacting the second probe PR2, the resistanceR_(L31) may be the electrical resistance of the third zigzag structureZS3 located between the first end E31 and a contact end C31 directlycontacting the third probe PR3, and the length L21 of the second zigzagstructure ZS2 located between the first end E21 and the contact end C21and the length L31 of the third zigzag structure ZS3 located between thefirst end E31 and the contact end C31 may be calculated according to theresult of the resistance measurement described above. Accordingly, thepositions of the first probe PR1, the second probe PR2, and the thirdprobe PR3 may be monitored by the length L11, the length L21, and thelength L31 obtained via the resistance measurement described above. Insome embodiments, the length L11 may be regarded as the length of theshortest path along the first zigzag structure ZS1 between the first endE11 and the first probe PR1, the length L21 may be regarded as thelength of the shortest path along the second zigzag structure ZS2between the first end E21 and the second probe PR2, and the length L31may be regarded as the length of the shortest path along the thirdzigzag structure ZS3 between the first end E31 and the third probe PR3,but not limited thereto.

FIGS. 6A-6C are schematic drawings illustrating a method of monitoring aposition of a probe with the probe position monitoring structure 101according to an embodiment of the present invention. As illustrated inFIGS. 1-3 and FIGS. 6A-6C, in some embodiments, the resistancemeasurement may include two-point measurement steps via the first probePR1, the second probe PR2, and the third probe PR3. For example, asillustrated in FIG. 6A, the DC power supply may be connected to thefirst probe PR1 and the second probe PR2 for supply a constant current(the value may be obtained from the ammeter connected with the DC powersupply), and the voltmeter may be connected to the first probe PR1 andthe second probe PR2 also for measuring the voltage drop between thefirst probe PR1 and the second probe PR2 and obtaining a firstresistance value R_(6A) in a first two-point measurement step.Similarly, as illustrated in FIG. 6B, the DC power supply may beconnected to the second probe PR2 and the third probe PR3 for supply aconstant current, and the voltmeter may be connected to the second probePR2 and the third probe PR3 also for measuring the voltage drop betweenthe second probe PR2 and the third probe PR3 and obtaining a secondresistance value R_(6B) in a second two-point measurement step. Asillustrated in FIG. 6C, the DC power supply may be connected to thefirst probe PR1 and the third probe PR3 for supply a constant current,and the voltmeter may be connected to the first probe PR1 and the thirdprobe PR3 also for measuring the voltage drop between the first probePR1 and the third probe PR3 and obtaining a third resistance valueR_(6C) in a third two-point measurement step. The resistance valueobtained in each of the measurement steps may be equal to the voltagevalue from the voltmeter divided by the current value from the ammeterin each of the measurement steps described above. In some embodiments,the first resistance value R_(6A) may be substantially equal to the sumof the resistance R_(L11) and the resistance R_(L21), the secondresistance value R_(6B) may be substantially equal to the sum of theresistance R_(L21) and the resistance R_(L31), and the third resistancevalue R_(6C) may be substantially equal to the sum of the resistanceR_(L11) and the resistance R_(L31) especially when the resistance of thefirst common line CL1 is relatively much lower than the resistanceR_(L11), the resistance R_(L21), and the resistance R_(L31) and can beomitted accordingly. Therefore, the resistance R_(L11), the resistanceR_(L21), and the resistance R_(L31) may be respectively calculatedaccording to the results of the two-point measurement steps describedabove.

FIGS. 7A-7C are schematic drawings illustrating a method of monitoring aposition of a probe with the probe position monitoring structure 101according to an embodiment of the present invention. As illustrated inFIGS. 1-3 and FIGS. 7A-7C, in some embodiments, the resistancemeasurement may include three-point measurement steps via the firstprobe PR1, the second probe PR2, and the third probe PR3. For example,as illustrated in FIG. 7A, the DC power supply may be connected to thefirst probe PR1 and the second probe PR2 for supply a constant current,and the voltmeter may be connected to the first probe PR1 and the thirdprobe PR3 for measuring the voltage drop between the first probe PR1 andthe third probe PR3 and obtaining a first resistance value R_(7A) in afirst three-point measurement step. As illustrated in FIG. 7B, the DCpower supply may be connected to the first probe PR1 and the secondprobe PR2 for supply a constant current, and the voltmeter may beconnected to the second probe PR2 and the third probe PR3 for measuringthe voltage drop between the second probe PR2 and the third probe PR3and obtaining a second resistance value R_(7B) in a second three-pointmeasurement step. As illustrated in FIG. 7C, the DC power supply may beconnected to the second probe PR2 and the third probe PR3 for supply aconstant current, and the voltmeter may be connected to the first probePR1 and the third probe PR3 for measuring the voltage drop between thefirst probe PR1 and the third probe PR3 and obtaining a third resistancevalue R_(7C) in a third three-point measurement step. In someembodiments, the first resistance value R_(7A) may be substantiallyequal to the resistance R_(L11), the second resistance value R_(7B) maybe substantially equal to the resistance R_(L21), and the thirdresistance value R_(7C) may be substantially equal to the resistanceR_(L31) especially when the resistance of the first common line CL1 isrelatively much lower than the resistance R_(L11), the resistanceR_(L21), and the resistance R_(L31) and can be omitted accordingly.

FIGS. 8A-8C are schematic drawings illustrating a method of monitoring aposition of a probe with the probe position monitoring structure 101according to an embodiment of the present invention. As illustrated inFIGS. 1-3 and FIGS. 8A-8C, in some embodiments, the resistancemeasurement may include three-point measurement steps via the firstprobe PR1, the second probe PR2, and the third probe PR3. For example,as illustrated in FIG. 8A, the DC power supply may be connected to thefirst probe PR1 and the third probe PR3 for supply a constant current,and the voltmeter may be connected to the first probe PR1 and the secondprobe PR2 for measuring the voltage drop between the first probe PR1 andthe second probe PR2 and obtaining a first resistance value R_(8A) in afirst three-point measurement step. As illustrated in FIG. 8B, the DCpower supply may be connected to the second probe PR2 and the thirdprobe PR3 for supply a constant current, and the voltmeter may beconnected to the first probe PR1 and the second probe PR2 for measuringthe voltage drop between the first probe PR1 and the second probe PR2and obtaining a second resistance value R_(8B) in a second three-pointmeasurement step. As illustrated in FIG. 8C, the DC power supply may beconnected to the first probe PR1 and the third probe PR3 for supply aconstant current, and the voltmeter may be connected to the second probePR2 and the third probe PR3 for measuring the voltage drop between thesecond probe PR2 and the third probe PR3 and obtaining a thirdresistance value R_(8C) in a third three-point measurement step. In someembodiments, the first resistance value R_(8A) may be substantiallyequal to the resistance R_(L11), the second resistance value R_(8B) maybe substantially equal to the resistance R_(L21), and the thirdresistance value R_(8C) may be substantially equal to the resistanceR_(L31) especially when the resistance of the first common line CL1 isrelatively much lower than the resistance R_(L11), the resistanceR_(L21), and the resistance R_(L31) and can be omitted accordingly.

It is worth noting that the measuring approach of the resistancemeasurement in the method of monitoring the position of the probe withthe probe position monitoring structure 101 is not limited to themeasurement steps described above and other suitable measuringapproaches may also be applied to measuring the resistance R_(L11), theresistance R_(L21), and the resistance R_(L31).

The following description will detail the different embodiments of thepresent invention. To simplify the description, identical components ineach of the following embodiments are marked with identical symbols. Formaking it easier to understand the differences between the embodiments,the following description will detail the dissimilarities amongdifferent embodiments and the identical features will not be redundantlydescribed.

FIG. 9 is a schematic drawing illustrating a probe position monitoringstructure 102 according to a second embodiment of the present invention.As illustrated in FIG. 9 , the probe position monitoring structure 102may further include a second common line CL2. The first end E21 of thesecond zigzag structure ZS2 may be directly connected with the firstcommon line CL1, a second end E22 of the second zigzag structure ZS2 maybe directly connected with the second common line CL2, and the first endE31 of the third zigzag structure ZS3 may be directly connected with thesecond common line CL2. In some embodiments, the probe positionmonitoring structure 102 may further include a third common line CL3 anda fourth common line CL4, a second end E12 of the first zigzag structureZS1 may be directly connected with the third common line CL3, and asecond end E32 of the third zigzag structure ZS3 may be directlyconnected with the fourth common line CL4. The material compositions andthe structures of the second common line CL2, the third common line CL3,and the fourth common line CL4 may be similar to those of the firstcommon line CL1. The first end E11 and the second end E12 may be twoopposite ends of the first zigzag structure ZS1 in the second directionD2, the first end E21 and the second end E22 may be two opposite ends ofthe second zigzag structure ZS2 in the second direction D2, and thefirst end E31 and the second end E32 may be two opposite ends of thethird zigzag structure ZS2 in the second direction D2.

FIG. 10A and FIG. 10B are schematic drawings illustrating a method ofmonitoring a position of a probe with the probe position monitoringstructure 102 according to an embodiment of the present invention. Asillustrated in FIG. 9 , FIG. 10A, and FIG. 10B, the method of monitoringthe position of the probe with the probe position monitoring structure102 may include directly contacting the first zigzag structure ZS1 withthe first probe PR1, directly contacting the second zigzag structure ZS2with the second probe PR2, and directly contacting the third zigzagstructure ZS3 with the third probe PR3. The resistance measurement inthis embodiment may be performed to measure the resistance of theportion of the first zigzag structure ZS1 located between the firstprobe PR1 and the first end E11 of the first zigzag structure ZS1 (suchas the resistance R_(L11) represented in FIG. 10A), the resistance ofthe portion of the second zigzag structure ZS2 located between thesecond probe PR2 and the first end E21 of the second zigzag structureZS2 (such as the resistance R_(L21) represented in FIG. 10A), aresistance of a portion of the second zigzag structure ZS2 locatedbetween the second probe PR2 and the second end E22 of the second zigzagstructure ZS2 (such as a resistance R_(L22) represented in FIG. 10A),and the resistance of a portion of the third zigzag structure ZS3located between the third probe PR3 and the first end E31 of the thirdzigzag structure ZS3 (such as the resistance R_(L31) represented in FIG.10A). The resistance R_(L11) may be the electrical resistance of thefirst zigzag structure ZS1 located between the first end E11 and thecontact end C11, a resistance R_(L12) may be the electrical resistanceof the first zigzag structure ZS1 located between the second end E12 anda contact end C12 directly contacting the first probe PR1, theresistance R_(L21) may be the electrical resistance of the second zigzagstructure ZS2 located between the first end E21 and the contact end C21,the resistance R_(L22) may be the electrical resistance of the secondzigzag structure ZS2 located between the second end E22 and a contactend C22 directly contacting the second probe PR2, the resistance R_(L31)may be the electrical resistance of the third zigzag structure ZS3located between the first end E31 and the contact end C31, and aresistance R_(L32) may be the electrical resistance of the third zigzagstructure ZS3 located between the second end E32 and a contact end C32directly contacting the third probe PR3.

In some embodiments, the resistance measurement may include a two-pointmeasurement step via the first probe PR1 and the second probe PR2 andanother two-point measurement step via the second probe PR2 and thethird probe PR3. For example, as illustrated in FIG. 10A, the DC powersupply may be connected to the first probe PR1 and the second probe PR2for supply a constant current, and the voltmeter may be connected to thefirst probe PR1 and the second probe PR2 also for measuring the voltagedrop between the first probe PR1 and the second probe PR2 and obtaininga first resistance value R_(10A) in a first two-point measurement step.As illustrated in FIG. 10B, the DC power supply may be connected to thesecond probe PR2 and the third probe PR3 for supply a constant current,and the voltmeter may be connected to the second probe PR2 and the thirdprobe PR3 also for measuring the voltage drop between the second probePR2 and the third probe PR3 and obtaining a second resistance valueR_(10B) in a second two-point measurement step. In some embodiments, thefirst resistance value R_(10A) may be substantially equal to the sum ofthe resistance R_(L11) and the resistance R_(L21), and the secondresistance value R_(10B) may be substantially equal to the sum of theresistance R_(L22) and the resistance R_(L31) especially when theresistances of the first common line CL1 and the second common line CL2are relatively much lower than the resistance R_(L11), the resistanceR_(L21), the resistance R_(L22), and the resistance R_(L31) and can beomitted accordingly. In some embodiments, the resistance R_(L11) may besubstantially equal to a half of the first resistance value R_(10A), theresistance R_(L21) may be substantially equal to a half of the firstresistance value R_(10A), the resistance R_(L22) may be substantiallyequal to a half of the second resistance value R_(10B), the resistanceR_(L31) may be substantially equal to a half of the second resistancevalue R_(10B) when the first probe PR1, the second probe PR2, and thethird probe PR3 are aligned in the first direction D1. The length of thesecond zigzag structure ZS2 located between the first end E21 and thecontact end C21 and the length of the second zigzag structure ZS2located between the second end E22 and the contact end C22 may becalculated according to the resistance measurement described above formonitoring the position of the second probe PR2 more precisely.

It is worth noting that the measuring approach of the resistancemeasurement in the method of monitoring the position of the probe withthe probe position monitoring structure 102 is not limited to themeasurement steps described above and other suitable measuringapproaches may also be applied to measuring the resistance R_(L11), theresistance R_(L12), the resistance R_(L21), the resistance R_(L22), theresistance R_(L31), and the resistance R_(L32). Additionally, in someembodiments, the first common line CL1, the second common line CL2, thethird common line CL3, the fourth common line CL4, and the contactportion CT may be at least located in a top layer of the stacked metallayer (such as the stacked metal layer SM represented in FIG. 3described above), but not limited thereto.

It is worth noting that, in this embodiment, when the first common lineCL1, the second common line CL2, the third common line CL3, and thefourth common line CL4 are respectively formed with metal layers in astacked metal layer (such as the stacked metal layer SM represented inFIG. 3 ), the metal layers of each of the common lines should beseparated physically and electrically from one another for avoidingforming closed circuits between the metal lines and influencing theresistance measurement described above. In other words, when each of thecommon lines are formed with the metal layers in the stacked metallayer, there is not any connecting plug (such as the connecting plugsV1-V3 represented in FIG. 3 ) disposed between the metal layers.

FIG. 11 is a schematic drawing illustrating a probe position monitoringstructure 103 according to a third embodiment of the present invention.FIG. 12 is a schematic drawing illustrating a method of monitoring aposition of a probe with the probe position monitoring structure 103. Asillustrated in FIG. 11 , the probe position monitoring structure 103 mayinclude the first common line CL1 and the contact portion CT includingthe first zigzag structure ZS1 and the second zigzag structure ZS2directly connected with the first common line CL1 respectively.Specifically, the first end E11 of the first zigzag structure ZS1 andthe first end E21 of the second zigzag structure ZS2 may be directlyconnected with the first common line CL1 respectively. As illustrated inFIG. 11 and FIG. 12 , the method of monitoring the position of the probewith the probe position monitoring structure 103 may include directlycontacting the first zigzag structure ZS1 with the first probe PR1 andthe second probe PR2 and directly contacting the second zigzag structureZS2 with the third probe PR3 and a fourth probe PR4. A resistanceR_(CT1), a resistance R_(CT2), a resistance R_(CT3), and a resistanceR_(CT4) represented in FIG. 12 may be the contact resistance between thefirst probe PR1 and the first zigzag structure ZS1, the contactresistance between the second probe PR2 and the first zigzag structureZS1, the contact resistance between the third probe PR3 and the secondzigzag structure ZS2, and the contact resistance between the fourthprobe PR4 and the second zigzag structure ZS2 respectively.Additionally, a resistance R_(L1) represented in FIG. 12 may be theelectrical resistance of the first zigzag structure ZS1 located betweenthe first end E11 and the contact end C11 directly contacting the firstprobe PR1 because the length of the first zigzag structure ZS1 locatedbetween the first end E11 and the contact end C11 is less than thelength of the first zigzag structure ZS1 located between the first endE11 and the contact end C21 directly contacting the second probe PR2,and a resistance R_(L2) represented in FIG. 12 may be the electricalresistance of the second zigzag structure ZS2 located between the firstend E21 and a contact end C31 directly contacting the third probe PR3because the length of the second zigzag structure ZS2 located betweenthe first end E21 and the contact end C31 is less than the length of thesecond zigzag structure ZS2 located between the first end E21 and acontact end C41 directly contacting the fourth probe PR4.

In some embodiments, the resistance measurement in the method ofmonitoring the position of the probe with the probe position monitoringstructure 103 may include a four-point measurement step via the firstprobe PR1, the second probe PR2, the third probe PR3, and the fourthprobe PR4. For example, as illustrated in FIG. 12 , the DC power supplymay be connected to the first probe PR1 and the third probe PR3 forsupply a constant current, and the voltmeter may be connected to thesecond probe PR2 and the fourth probe PR4 for measuring the voltage dropbetween the second probe PR2 and the fourth probe PR4 and obtaining aresistance value substantially equal to the sum of the resistance R_(L1)and the resistance R_(L2) described above in a four-point measurementstep. In some embodiments, the resistance R_(L1) may be substantiallyequal to a half of the resistance value obtained in the four-pointmeasurement step represented in FIG. 12 , and the resistance R_(L2) maybe substantially equal to a half of the resistance value obtained in thefour-point measurement step represented in FIG. 12 when the first probePR1, the second probe PR2, the third probe PR3, and the fourth probe PR4are aligned in the first direction D1, but not limited thereto. In otherwords, the contact resistance between the probe and the contact portionCT may be omitted by the four-point measurement step used in theresistance measurement described above, the length of the first zigzagstructure ZS1 located between the first end E11 and the first probe PR1and the length of the second zigzag structure ZS2 located between thefirst end E21 and the third probe PR3 may be calculated more accurately,and the position of the first probe PR1 and the position of the thirdprobe PR3 may be monitored more precisely.

It is worth noting that the measuring approach of the resistancemeasurement in the method of monitoring the position of the probe withthe probe position monitoring structure 103 is not limited to themeasurement step described above and other suitable measuring approachesmay also be applied to measuring the resistance R_(L1) and theresistance R_(L2). In addition, the measuring approach configured toomit the contact resistance between the probe and the contact portion CTin this embodiment may also be applied to other embodiments of thepresent invention.

FIG. 13 is a schematic drawing illustrating a probe position monitoringstructure 104 according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.FIGS. 14A-14C are schematic drawings illustrating a method of monitoringa position of a probe with the probe position monitoring structure 104.As illustrated in FIG. 13 , the probe position monitoring structure 104may include the first common line CL1 and the contact portion CTincluding the first zigzag structure ZS1, the second zigzag structureZS2, and the third zigzag structure ZS3 directly connected with thefirst common line CL1 respectively. Specifically, the first end E11 ofthe first zigzag structure ZS1, the first end E21 of the second zigzagstructure ZS2, and the first end E31 of the third zigzag structure ZS3may be directly connected with the first common line CL1 respectively.As illustrated in FIG. 13 and FIGS. 14A-14C, the method of monitoringthe position of the probe with the probe position monitoring structure104 may include directly contacting the first zigzag structure ZS1 withthe first probe PR1 and the second probe PR2, directly contacting thesecond zigzag structure ZS2 with the third probe PR3 and a fifth probePR5, and directly contacting the third zigzag structure ZS3 with thefourth probe PR4 and a sixth probe PR6. The resistance R_(CT1), theresistance R_(CT2), the resistance R_(CT3), the resistance R_(CT4), aresistance R_(CT5), and a resistance R_(CT6) represented in FIGS.14A-14C may be the contact resistance between the first probe PR1 andthe first zigzag structure ZS1, the contact resistance between thesecond probe PR2 and the first zigzag structure ZS1, the contactresistance between the third probe PR3 and the second zigzag structureZS2, the contact resistance between the fourth probe PR4 and the thirdzigzag structure ZS3, the contact resistance between the fifth probe PR5and the second zigzag structure ZS2, and the contact resistance betweenthe sixth probe PR6 and the third zigzag structure ZS3 respectively.Additionally, the resistance R_(L1) represented in FIGS. 14A-14C may bethe electrical resistance of the first zigzag structure ZS1 locatedbetween the first end E11 and the contact end C11 directly contactingthe first probe PR1 because the length of the first zigzag structure ZS1located between the first end E11 and the contact end C11 is less thanthe length of the first zigzag structure ZS1 located between the firstend E11 and the contact end C21 directly contacting the second probePR2, the resistance R_(L2) represented in FIGS. 14A-14C may be theelectrical resistance of the second zigzag structure ZS2 located betweenthe first end E21 and the contact end C31 directly contacting the thirdprobe PR3 because the length of the second zigzag structure ZS2 locatedbetween the first end E21 and the contact end C31 is less than thelength of the second zigzag structure ZS2 located between the first endE21 and a contact end C51 directly contacting the fifth probe PR5, and aresistance R_(L3) represented in FIGS. 14A-14C may be the electricalresistance of the third zigzag structure ZS3 located between the firstend E31 and a contact end C61 directly contacting the sixth probe PR6because the length of the third zigzag structure ZS3 located between thefirst end E31 and the contact end C61 is less than the length of thethird zigzag structure ZS3 located between the first end E31 and thecontact end C41 directly contacting the fourth probe PR4.

In some embodiments, the resistance measurement in the method ofmonitoring the position of the probe with the probe position monitoringstructure 104 may include four-point measurement steps via the firstprobe PR1, the second probe PR2, the third probe PR3, the fourth probePR4, the fifth probe PR5, and/or the sixth probe PR6. For example, asillustrated in FIG. 14A, the DC power supply may be connected to thefirst probe PR1 and the third probe PR3 for supply a constant current,and the voltmeter may be connected to the second probe PR2 and thefourth probe PR4 for measuring the voltage drop between the second probePR2 and the fourth probe PR4 and obtaining a resistance valuesubstantially equal to the resistance R_(L1) described above in afour-point measurement step via the first probe PR1, the second probePR2, the third probe PR3, and the fourth probe PR4. As illustrated inFIG. 14B, the DC power supply may be connected to the first probe PR1and the sixth probe PR6 for supply a constant current, and the voltmetermay be connected to the second probe PR2 and the fifth probe PR5 formeasuring the voltage drop between the second probe PR2 and the fifthprobe PR5 and obtaining a resistance value substantially equal to theresistance R_(L1) described above in another four-point measurement stepvia the first probe PR1, the second probe PR2, the fifth probe PR5, andthe sixth probe PR6. As illustrated in FIG. 14C, the DC power supply maybe connected to the fifth probe PR5 and the fourth probe PR4 for supplya constant current, and the voltmeter may be connected to the firstprobe PR1 and the third probe PR3 for measuring the voltage drop betweenthe first probe PR1 and the third probe PR3 and obtaining a resistancevalue substantially equal to the resistance R_(L2) described above in afour-point measurement step via the first probe PR1, the third probePR3, the fourth probe PR4, and the fifth probe PR5. In addition, theresistance R_(L3) described above may be obtained by a four-pointmeasurement step similar to a modification of the four-point measurementstep represented in FIG. 14A and/or a modification of the four-pointmeasurement step represented in FIG. 14B. For example, the DC powersupply may be connected to the fifth probe PR5 and the fourth probe PR4for supply a constant current, and the voltmeter may be connected to thefirst probe PR1 and the sixth probe PR6 for measuring the voltage dropbetween the first probe PR1 and the sixth probe PR6 and obtaining aresistance value substantially equal to the resistance R_(L3) describedabove in a four-point measurement step via the first probe PR1, thefourth probe PR4, the fifth probe PR5, and the sixth probe PR6. Thecontact resistance between the probe and the contact portion CT may beomitted by the four-point measurement step used in the resistancemeasurement described above, the length of the first zigzag structureZS1 located between the first end E11 and the first probe PR1, thelength of the second zigzag structure ZS2 located between the first endE21 and the third probe PR3, and the length of the third zigzagstructure ZS3 located between the first end E31 and the sixth probe PR6may be calculated more accurately, and the positions of the first probePR1, the third probe PR3, and the sixth probe PR6 may be monitored moreprecisely.

It is worth noting that the measuring approach of the resistancemeasurement in the method of monitoring the position of the probe withthe probe position monitoring structure 104 is not limited to themeasurement steps described above and other suitable measuringapproaches may also be applied to measuring the resistance R_(L1), theresistance R_(L2), and the resistance R_(L3). In addition, the measuringapproach configured to omit the contact resistance between the probe andthe contact portion CT in this embodiment may also be applied to otherembodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 15 is a schematic drawing illustrating a probe position monitoringstructure 105 according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention.FIG. 16 is a schematic drawing illustrating a method of monitoring aposition of a probe with the probe position monitoring structure 105. Asillustrated in FIG. 15 , the probe position monitoring structure 105includes the first common line CL1, the second common line CL2, areference zigzag structure RZ, and the contact portion CT including thefirst zigzag structure ZS1 and the second zigzag structure ZS2. Thefirst end E11 of the first zigzag structure ZS1 may be directlyconnected with the first common line CL1, and the first end E21 of thesecond zigzag structure ZS2 may be directly connected with the secondcommon line CL2. The reference zigzag structure RZ may be disposedbetween the first zigzag structure ZS1 and the second zigzag structureZS2 in the first direction D1. A first end E91 of the reference zigzagstructure RZ may be directly connected with the first common line CL1, asecond end E92 of the reference zigzag structure RZ may be directlyconnected with the second common line CL2, and a line width of thereference zigzag structure RZ may be equal to the line width of thefirst zigzag structure ZS1 and/or the line width of the second zigzagstructure ZS2. In some embodiments, the contact portion CT may furtherinclude the third zigzag structure ZS3 and a fourth zigzag structureZS4. A first end E41 of the fourth zigzag structure ZS4 may be directlyconnected with the first common line CL1, and the first end E31 of thethird zigzag structure ZS3 may be directly connected with the secondcommon line CL2. The first zigzag structure ZS1, the second zigzagstructure ZS2, the third zigzag structure ZS3, and the fourth zigzagstructure ZS4 may be aligned in the first direction D1, and the firstzigzag structure ZS1 and the second zigzag structure ZS2 may be disposedbetween the fourth zigzag structure ZS4 and the third zigzag structureZS3 in the first direction D1. In some embodiments, the pattern of thefirst zigzag structure ZS1, the pattern of the second zigzag structureZS2, the pattern of the third zigzag structure ZS3, and a pattern of thefourth zigzag structure ZS4 in the third direction D3 may be identicalto one another, but not limited thereto. In some embodiments, thereference zigzag structure RZ is not a part of the contact portion CT,but the reference zigzag structure RZ, the first zigzag structure ZS1,the second zigzag structure ZS2, the third zigzag structure ZS3, thefourth zigzag structure ZS4, the first common line CL1, and the secondcommon line CL2 may be different parts of one conductive layer (such asthe metal layer M4 represented in FIG. 3 ), but not limited thereto.

As illustrated in FIG. 15 and FIG. 16 , the method of monitoring theposition of the probe with the probe position monitoring structure 105may include directly contacting the first zigzag structure ZS1 with thefirst probe PR1, directly contacting the second zigzag structure ZS2with the second probe PR2, directly contacting the third zigzagstructure ZS3 with the third probe PR3, and directly contacting thefourth zigzag structure ZS4 with the fourth probe PR4. The resistanceR_(L11) represented in FIG. 16 may be the electrical resistance of thefirst zigzag structure ZS1 located between the first end E11 and thecontact end C11 directly contacting the first probe PR1, the resistanceR_(L21) represented in FIG. 16 may be the electrical resistance of thesecond zigzag structure ZS2 located between the first end E21 and thecontact end C21 directly contacting the second probe PR2, the resistanceR_(L31) represented in FIG. 16 may be the electrical resistance of thethird zigzag structure ZS3 located between the first end E31 and thecontact end C31 directly contacting the third probe PR3, a resistanceR_(L41) represented in FIG. 16 may be the electrical resistance of thefourth zigzag structure ZS4 located between the first end E41 and acontact end C41 directly contacting the fourth probe PR4, and theresistance R_(LR) represented in FIG. 16 may be the electricalresistance of the reference zigzag structure RZ.

In some embodiments, the resistance measurement in the method ofmonitoring the position of the probe with the probe position monitoringstructure 105 may include a four-point measurement step via the firstprobe PR1, the second probe PR2, the third probe PR3, and the fourthprobe PR4. For example, as illustrated in FIG. 16 , the DC power supplymay be connected to the first probe PR1 and the second probe PR2 forsupply a constant current, and the voltmeter may be connected to thefourth probe PR4 and the third probe PR3 for measuring the voltage dropbetween the fourth probe PR4 and the third probe PR3 and obtaining aresistance value substantially equal to the resistance R_(LR) describedabove in a four-point measurement step via the first probe PR1, thesecond probe PR2, the third probe PR3, and the fourth probe PR4. Theactual line width of the zigzag structures may be calculated accordingto the resistance R_(LR) obtained by the resistance measurementdescribed above because the line width design value of the referencezigzag structure RZ is identical to that of other zigzag structures, andbecause the reference zigzag structure RZ and the zigzag structures maybe formed with the same material formed concurrently by the sameprocess. In other words, the resistance R_(LR) may be used to calculatethe length of the first zigzag structure ZS1 located between the firstend E11 and the first probe PR1, the length of the second zigzagstructure ZS2 located between the first end E21 and the second probePR2, the length of the third zigzag structure ZS3 located between thefirst end E31 and the third probe PR3, and the length of the fourthzigzag structure ZS4 located between the first end E41 and the fourthprobe PR4 more accurately, and the positions of the first probe PR1, thesecond probe PR2, the third probe PR3, and the fourth probe PR4 may bemonitored more precisely. In addition, the resistance R_(L11), theresistance R_(L21), the resistance R_(L31), and the resistance R_(L41)in this embodiment may be measured by the measurement steps in theembodiments described above or other suitable measurement approaches,and the reference zigzag structure RZ may be applied in otherembodiments of the present invention according to some designconsiderations.

It is worth noting that, in this embodiment, when the first common lineCL1 and the second common line CL2 are formed with metal layers in astacked metal layer (such as the stacked metal layer SM represented inFIG. 3 ), the metal layers in the first common line CL1 and the secondcommon line CL2 should be separated physically and electrically from oneanother for avoiding forming closed circuits between the metal lines andinfluencing the resistance measurement described above. In other words,when the first common line CL1 and the second common line CL2 are formedwith the metal layers in the stacked metal layer, there is not anyconnecting plug (such as the connecting plugs V1-V3 represented in FIG.3 ) disposed between the metal layers.

To summarize the above descriptions, according to the probe positionmonitoring structure and the method of monitoring the position of theprobe in the present invention, the contact portion of the probeposition monitoring structure includes the zigzag structure for beingused in the resistance measurement where the probe directly contacts thezigzag structure, and the position of the probe may be monitored bymeasuring the resistance of the zigzag structure between the common lineand the probe and calculating the length of the zigzag structure betweenthe common line and the probe.

Those skilled in the art will readily observe that numerousmodifications and alterations of the device and method may be made whileretaining the teachings of the invention. Accordingly, the abovedisclosure should be construed as limited only by the metes and boundsof the appended claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A probe position monitoring structure,comprising: a first common line; and a contact portion configured forbeing directly contacted with probes, wherein the contact portioncomprises: a first zigzag structure extending in a horizontal directionfor being directly contacted with a first probe in a vertical direction,wherein a first end of the first zigzag structure is directly connectedwith the first common line; a second zigzag structure extending in thehorizontal direction for being directly contacted with a second probe inthe vertical direction, wherein a first end of the second zigzagstructure is directly connected with the first common line; and a thirdzigzag structure extending in the horizontal direction for beingdirectly contacted with a third probe in the vertical direction, whereina first end of the third zigzag structure is directly connected with thefirst common line.
 2. The probe position monitoring structure accordingto claim 1, wherein the first zigzag structure comprises: firstsections, wherein each of the first sections is elongated in a firstdirection; and second sections, wherein each of the second sections iselongated in a second direction different from the first direction anddirectly connected with two of the first sections located adjacent toeach other.
 3. The probe position monitoring structure according toclaim 2, wherein a width of each of the first sections is less than awidth of the first common line.
 4. The probe position monitoringstructure according to claim 3, wherein a ratio of the width of thefirst common line to the width of each of the first sections ranges from5 to
 200. 5. The probe position monitoring structure according to claim1, wherein a pattern of the second zigzag structure is identical to apattern of the first zigzag structure.
 6. The probe position monitoringstructure according to claim 5, wherein a pattern of the third zigzagstructure is identical to the pattern of the first zigzag structure. 7.The probe position monitoring structure according to claim 1, furthercomprising: an interlayer dielectric, wherein the first common line andthe contact portion are at least partially disposed in the interlayerdielectric, and the first zigzag structure comprises a first layer and asecond layer separated from each other by a portion of the interlayerdielectric.
 8. The probe position monitoring structure according toclaim 1, wherein the first zigzag structure, the second zigzagstructure, the third zigzag structure, and the first common line aredifferent parts of a metal layer.
 9. A method of monitoring a positionof a probe, comprising: providing a probe position monitoring structure,wherein the probe position monitoring structure comprises: a firstcommon line; and a contact portion, wherein the contact portioncomprises: a first zigzag structure extending in a horizontal direction,wherein a first end of the first zigzag structure is directly connectedwith the first common line; a second zigzag structure extending in thehorizontal direction, wherein a first end of the second zigzag structureis directly connected with the first common line; and a third zigzagstructure extending in the horizontal direction, wherein a first end ofthe third zigzag structure is directly connected with the first commonline; directly contacting the first zigzag structure extending in thehorizontal direction with a first probe in a vertical direction;directly contacting the second zigzag structure extending in thehorizontal direction with a second probe in the vertical direction;directly contacting the third zigzag structure extending in thehorizontal direction with a third probe in the vertical direction; andperforming a resistance measurement to measure a resistance of a portionof the first zigzag structure located between the first probe and thefirst end of the first zigzag structure, a resistance of a portion ofthe second zigzag structure located between the second probe and thefirst end of the second zigzag structure, and a resistance of a portionof the third zigzag structure located between the third probe and thefirst end of the third zigzag structure.
 10. The method of monitoringthe position of the probe according to claim 9, further comprising:calculating a length of the portion of the first zigzag structurelocated between the first probe and the first end of the first zigzagstructure according to a result of the resistance measurement.
 11. Themethod of monitoring the position of the probe according to claim 9,wherein the resistance measurement comprises two-point measurement stepsor three-point measurement steps via the first probe, the second probe,and the third probe.
 12. The method of monitoring the position of theprobe according to claim 9, further comprising: calculating a length ofthe portion of the second zigzag structure located between the secondprobe and the first end of the second zigzag structure and a length ofthe portion of the third zigzag structure located between the thirdprobe and the first end of the third zigzag structure according to aresult of the resistance measurement.